Background on Key Figures and Context
The United States Congress has approved an agreement to end the longest government shutdown in US history. This decision came after the House of Representatives voted to resume interrupted food assistance, pay federal workers who were unpaid for weeks, and restart the air traffic control system that had been paralyzed.
The Republican-controlled House approved the package by a vote of 222 to 209, with support from President Donald Trump. The agreement had already been passed by the Senate, and Trump signed it approximately two hours after the House vote.
This deal extends funding until January 30, keeping the federal government on track to add around $1.8 trillion to its $23 trillion debt this fiscal year.
Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ) likened the handling of the shutdown by Congress to an episode of the 1990s American sitcom “Seinfeld,” expressing confusion over the prolonged impasse. He initially thought it would last only 48 hours, allowing time for frustration before returning to normal operations.
The vote occurred eight days after Democrats won several high-stakes elections, which many in the party believed would strengthen their chances of securing an extension for federal health insurance subsidies set to expire by year’s end.
Key Points of the Agreement
- Restarting food assistance programs that were interrupted during the shutdown
- Paying back wages to hundreds of thousands of federal workers who went without pay
- Reactivating the air traffic control system that was affected by the shutdown
- Extending government funding until January 30, adding approximately $1.8 trillion to the national debt
Reactions and Public Opinion
Despite the criticisms, neither party appears to have secured a clear victory. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday showed that 50% of Americans blamed Republicans for the shutdown, while 47% blamed Democrats.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the agreement about? The agreement aimed to end the government shutdown by resuming food assistance programs, paying federal workers, and restarting critical services like air traffic control.
- Who supported the agreement? The agreement was backed by President Donald Trump and passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 222 to 209, along party lines.
- When did the shutdown end? The shutdown ended when Congress approved and President Trump signed the agreement, which extended government funding until January 30.
- How did the public react to the shutdown? According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 50% of Americans blamed Republicans for the shutdown, while 47% blamed Democrats.
